IRVINE, Calif. — A gritty performance from the USD bullpen — one that saw three different pitchers throw a pair of scoreless innings — allowed San Diego baseball (23-12, 8-4 WCC) to edge USC (17-19, 10-7 PAC-12) by a 3-2 margin on Tuesday night, earning it a midweek non-conference victory at Great Park in Irvine.

San Diego found itself trailing by a run after the first inning, but quickly recovered by scoring a run in the second inning to tie the game, and never trailed again as starter Ryan Kysar and the Torero bullpen surrendered just one run through the final eight innings of play. 

A clutch RBI triple from Dustin Allen in the fifth inning gave San Diego a two-run cushion, which was enough for Ivran Romero, Alex Schrier, and Drake Frize to team up on the mound and pitch a pair of scoreless innings apiece to the victory for USD. 

IT'S ALL ABOUT HOW YOU RESPOND

• USC got the scoring started in the bottom of the first with an RBI single to left center just before USD responded immediately in the top of the second with an RBI groundout from Justin DeCriscio to score Jack Gurevitch, making it 1-1. 
• The score remained the same until the top of the fifth inning, when Dustin Allen put the Toreros on top by a 3-1 margin with a two-RBI triple down the right field line that plated Angelo Peraza and Gabe D'Arcy.
• USC cut the San Diego lead to 3-2 in the sixth inning with an RBI groundout, but got no closer. 

THE POWER OF THE 'PEN

• Kysar got the start on the mound for the Toreros and turned in three innings, surrendering just one earned run while striking out five and walking one. 
• Romero was first out of the bullpen for San Diego, and completed two scoreless frames while striking out a pair. 
• After Chase Minor loaded the bases in the sixth, Schrier took over with no outs and worked his way out of the jam while minimizing damage by inducing a double play ball and a groundout. He ultimately threw two innings, and was not charged with any runs.
• Frize finished the game for the Toreros on the mound in dominant fashion by completing a scoreless six-out save.

TORERO TIDBITS

• Gurevitch paced the USD offense with a 2-for-4 mark, and crossed the plate once. 
• Romero picked up the win on Tuesday evening to move to 5-1.
• Frize earned his second save of 2024 in Tuesday night's win.
• Allen's fifth-inning triple is his third of the season and his seventh of his career. His two RBIs against the Trojans marked his fourth multi-RBI performance of the season. 
• Allen, Angelo Peraza, Austin Smith, and DeCriscio each drew a walk in Tuesday's victory. 

UP NEXT
The Toreros are back in action this weekend, when they travel to Malibu, California to continue conference play with a three-game series on the road against Pepperdine. First pitch at Eddy D. Field Stadium on Friday afternoon is set for 3:00 p.m.